Frankly in Love

Frankly in Love is a coming-of-age novel written by David Yoon and published in 2019 by Penguin Young Readers, Putnam. The story revolves around Frank Li, a Korean American teenager torn between his American identity and the traditional expectations of his Korean parents. With its engaging storyline and exploration of cultural identity, Frankly in Love tackles themes of love, family expectations, and self-discovery. David Yoon’s writing skillfully portrays the complexities of Frank’s experiences as he grapples with his dual identity. The novel offers a heartfelt and humorous examination of the pressures of immigrant children caught between understanding their heritage and developing their own identity. It was a New York Times bestseller, a William C. Morris YA Debut Award Finalist, and was selected by Time as one of the 100 Best YA Books of All Time.

Content Warning: Frankly in Love includes racism and racist encounters. It also mentions an armed robbery and depicts panic attacks.

Plot Summary

Frank Li is an American child of Korean immigrants who is beginning to navigate his first relationships with girls, while also confronting the expectations of his parents to preserve the family’s Korean traditions. A bildungsroman, or coming-of-age story, Frankly in Love explores Frank’s burgeoning identity as he comes to terms with his family dynamics, cultural heritage, and understanding of racial identity in America.